MI · Michigan

Michigan's utility stack is the thinnest of all 11 states we serve.

DTE Energy and Consumers Energy split roughly 80% of the state between them, with municipals and rural co-ops covering the rest. Heat pump rebates cap at $1,200, there is no residential battery program, and the Distributed Generation framework under Public Act 235 credits exported solar at supply-only rates well below retail. State Home Energy Rebates and federal layers do most of the work in MI; the utility-side stack is small but worth knowing line by line. Here's what each one offers, in 2026.

MI · Utilities

A late-afternoon Michigan neighborhood: mid-century or ranch homes with attached garages on a quiet residential street, mature trees, distribution lines visible against the sky on roadside poles, soft Midwestern light

~$0.18/kWh

Avg MI residential electric rate

$0.11/kWh · 20 yrs

DTE Solar Currents production incentive

$1,200 max

DTE heat pump rebate cap, top tier

The one bright spot in a thin stack

DTE's Solar Currents program pays $2.40/W upfront plus $0.11/kWh production for 20 years, the only meaningful utility solar incentive in Michigan.

In a state where Public Act 235 replaced full retail net metering with supply-only outflow credits (roughly $0.0775 to $0.14/kWh on DTE, $0.09 to $0.16/kWh on Consumers), Solar Currents is the lone utility program that actually moves the math on a residential solar payback. It stacks an upfront $2.40/W rebate with a 20-year $0.11/kWh production incentive on the kWh you generate, regardless of where it flows. The catch: the program has been periodically capped, so enrollment status should be verified at point-of-sale. Consumers Energy has no equivalent program; Solar Currents is DTE-only.

Utility	Heat pumps	Solar	Storage	Insulation	Windows
DTE Energy Michigan	2	2★	1	1
Consumers Energy Michigan	2	2★	1	1

Utility · 1 of 2

DTE Energy Michigan

DTE Energy is the larger of Michigan's two big investor-owned utilities, serving roughly 50% of state electric load across the southeast quadrant of the lower peninsula, including Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and the Thumb. DTE is also the only MI utility with a residential solar production incentive (Solar Currents) and the only one running TOD as the default residential rate.

Heat pumps · 2 programs

DTE Heat Pump Rebate

$150–$1,200

Per-equipment rebate from $150 up to $1,200 depending on equipment type and efficiency. Cold-climate ASHP (16+ SEER2 / 9.1+ HSPF2) qualifies for the top-tier rebate; ductless mini-splits also receive a higher incentive. Single-family homes with an individual electric meter are eligible.

DTE rebates page → · DTE rebate guide →

DTE Time-of-Day Rate (D1.11)

TOD default · summer 3–7 pm

The standard residential rate is now Time-of-Day by default in DTE territory. On-peak window is weekdays summer (June through October) 3 pm to 7 pm. Heat pump owners benefit from off-peak overnight charging of HPWHs and overnight heating cycles. [NEEDS RESEARCH, current 2026 peak/off-peak ¢/kWh spread; verify on DTE rate tariff page before quoting.]

DTE rate & rebate page →

Solar · 2 programs

Distributed Generation Program (Rider 18)

Inflow retail · outflow ~$0.0775–$0.14/kWh

Replaces full retail net metering under Public Act 235 (2023). Inflow is billed at the full retail rate, outflow is credited at the supply-only rate, roughly $0.0775 to $0.14/kWh depending on time of day (off-peak around 8.5¢, summer peak 4 pm to 7 pm around 14¢). Payback math works very differently from a traditional 1:1 net-metering state.

GreenLancer · DTE NM → · Aurora Solar · DTE NM replacement →

DTE Solar Currents ProgramFlagship

$2.40/W upfront + $0.11/kWh · 20 yrs

Upfront $2.40/W rebate plus a 20-year $0.11/kWh production incentive on every kWh the system generates. The only meaningful utility-side solar incentive in Michigan and the difference-maker on residential payback under PA 235. [NEEDS RESEARCH, verify Solar Currents enrollment status; the program has been periodically capped.]

DTE residential programs index →

Energy storage · no residential program

No DTE residential BYOD or VPP program

DTE does not run a residential bring-your-own-device or virtual power plant program. DTE's storage strategy is utility-scale: the 220 MW Trenton Channel battery comes online late 2026, and 1,000 MW is IRP-approved. The TOD default rate enables battery arbitrage on the peak/off-peak spread, but there is no direct dispatch payment to homeowners.

Utility Dive · DTE storage → · MPSC · big on batteries →

Insulation & weatherization · 1 program

DTE Energy Efficiency Program

Direct-install + tiered rebates

DTE's EE program offers direct-install measures plus an audit-based tiered rebate on insulation and air sealing. Stackable with the state Home Energy Rebates pass-through administered by EGLE.

DTE residential programs index →

Windows & doors · no utility rebate

No utility rebate available

DTE does not offer a windows/doors rebate. The federal 25C credit (up to $600/year for windows) expired Dec 31, 2025 with no utility replacement program. Inherent ROI (utility savings, comfort, resale value) is the case for the upgrade.

Utility · 2 of 2

Consumers Energy Michigan

Consumers Energy serves roughly 30% of Michigan electric load, primarily across the western and central lower peninsula including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Jackson. Consumers' DG outflow credit runs slightly higher than DTE's, but there is no Consumers-equivalent of Solar Currents and no residential battery program.

Heat pumps · 2 programs

Consumers Energy Heating & Cooling Rebates

Per-equipment · verify at POS

Per-equipment rebates on qualifying heating and cooling equipment, valid through Dec 31, 2026. Equipment must be installed by a participating Trade Ally. [NEEDS RESEARCH, specific per-ton rebate amounts not consistently published in the public-facing 2026 catalog; verify at point-of-sale or call Consumers at 866-234-0445 for current 2026 amounts.]

Consumers HVAC programs PDF →

MI Saves Financing

0% on-bill financing

On-bill 0% interest financing available through the Consumers Energy and MI Saves partnership, used to spread the remaining balance on qualifying heating, cooling, and weatherization upgrades over the meter.

Consumers heating & cooling rebates →

Solar · 2 programs

Distributed Generation Program (PA 235)Better than DTE

Outflow ~$0.09–$0.16/kWh

Same Public Act 235 framework: inflow at retail, outflow at the supply-only rate. Consumers' outflow credit runs roughly $0.09 to $0.16/kWh, slightly higher than DTE's range, with the spread reflecting the time-of-day component. Still well below full retail, so payback math under PA 235 leans on self-consumption.

Consumers residential programs index →

No Consumers solar production incentive

Consumers Energy does not offer a residential solar production incentive equivalent to DTE Solar Currents. PA 235 outflow credits are the entire utility-side solar economics on this side of the state.

Energy storage · no residential program

No Consumers residential BYOD or VPP program

Consumers Energy does not run a residential battery dispatch program. As with DTE, Consumers' storage strategy is utility-scale; behind-the-meter battery economics in MI rest on backup value plus federal 25D for storage paired with new solar.

Insulation & weatherization · 1 program

Consumers Energy Home Performance

Audit-driven tiered rebate

Audit-driven, tiered rebate on insulation and air sealing. Stackable with the state Home Energy Rebates pass-through administered by EGLE.